By Daniel Milani
If you’ll indulge me, I am a classic new world coin which proudly shares Greek and Italian ancestry. Both are important but this time, when the coin was tossed it landed Greek. So, with equal measure of surprise and fortune, in September 2024 I’d be connecting with the Greek side.
I’ve always been more deeply rooted to my Greek side and was raised surrounded by my yiayia and pappou. Given the slightest opportunity, you can rely on my pappou to exclaim: ‘Greece number one.’ After attending the inaugural Greek Youth Camp to Athens, I share his sentiment. This was more than just a vacation, but rather a pilgrimage to a land that forms the cultural foundations of my heritage.
After acclimatising at our official accommodation, the Army Summer Resort in Agios Andreas, we commenced our dive into a busy but fun packed itinerary. My mother was particularly happy to have the support of the Greek army’s protection. Greek mothers hey, I’m sure you all understand.
Cultural activities included visiting the Acropolis, Delphi and Mycenae to an unforgettable day on the ferry visiting Poros, Hydra and Aegina. My love of American rap has now been augmented with Greek rap music. We also had the honour of listening to the legend himself, Giorgos Dalaras at the Herodion!
Attiki, with its warm Mediterranean air and historic streets, felt like stepping into a dream. I have seen pictures and heard stories from my grandparents, but I can now say that I’ve touched, tasted and breathed its intoxicating aroma.
The juxtaposition of ancient ruins and modern life, the bustling streets of Athens, and the laid-back coastal towns surrounding Attiki created a unique atmosphere that felt strangely alien yet familiar.
At Syntagma Square in Athens, the guards outside the Hellenic Parliament, with their traditional uniforms and solemn ceremonial movements, brought to life the stories I have heard about Greece’s long and proud history. History is important but it reminded me that I am now a custodian of this heritage, soon it will be my time to impart these stories. That’s why I’m here and why our leaders have so generously and graciously funded the trip. We are the future, members of a far-flung Hellenic diaspora to which the torch has been passed. On this day everyone seemed to have a deep connection to that shared past, but a commitment and tenacity to keep the flame burning.
Nafplio was a personal highlight. It was not what I expected, with its seafront promenade and Venetian era monuments, yes, the other side of my genetic coin. I was struck with how my Italian roots and various other influences shape such a unique town. Greece isn’t just Mykonos and the party islands, but so much more. A fact I wish to pursue while exploring Greece on future trips.
In what felt like two shakes of a donkey’s tail, our journey had ended. Greece no longer felt abstract and old. It felt like a second home—a place where my past and present could coexist.
Returning to Australia, I carry a deeper appreciation for my Greek heritage, and a renewed sense of pride. Visiting Attiki has allowed me to rediscover my roots in a way that books, stories, and pictures never can. It is the beginning of a lifelong relationship with a place that had always been a part of me. Memories no-one can erase and most importantly, ones I feel duty bound to share.
